A while back I was sent for a sleep study by my doctor. I was given a choice of either doing it from home or going to a hotel. I chose to go to the hotel.
I was a bit apprehensive when I arrived that evening. I wandered aimlessly around the room and finally sat down on the bed. At that moment, something unique caught my eye. The space above the headboard was covered with what appeared to be album covers stretching wall to wall much like the books line the shelves in a library. I was mesmerized by all the names represented there. I became absorbed in them, as much as I would in any book. So much, in fact, that I had to be reminded several times that I was there for a sleep study. The final nudge came with the words, “You know, we need at least three hours of uninterrupted sleep to get an accurate reading of your sleep patterns.”
My first thought was, then you guys put this girl in the wrong room!
With the warning in mind, I turned away from all that music history on the wall and did my best to go to sleep with a multitude of songs playing in my head.
Here are just a few examples of the artists represented there and some of the songs they’re known for. Just for fun, how many do you know, or at least remember?
Merle Haggard sang, “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Sing Me Back Home,” and my personal favorite “Mama Tried.”
Loggins and Messina sang, “Your Mama Don’t Dance (and Your Daddy Don’t Rock and Roll,) Danny’s Song,” and “The House On Pooh Corner.”
Jerry Lee Lewis sang, “Great Balls Of Fire,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” but the one I like the best is, “Chantilly Lace.” (I had the 45 back in the day!)
Jack White — I love this guy! — hit the big time with his music as a solo artist, and he’s had many collaborations with a variety of artists including his duo, The White Stripes who wrote the song I dedicate to ALL my customers, “(I Can Tell) We’re Gonna Be Friends!” He is also special to many of us at The Contributor because he invited us to use his venue Third Man Records to show off our Zines and poetry for multiple events.
Who doesn’t love a a good rock song like ZZ Top’s “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” and for the record, it’s true, every girl’s crazy ‘bout a “Sharp Dressed Man!”
The Allman Brothers Band had classic hits like “Ramblin’ Man” and “Midnight Rider.”
Dan Fogelberg was a balladeer who scored his first big hit with “Longer” and a wonderful tribute to his father called “Leader of the Band.”
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is known for songs like, “Fishin’ in the Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles.”
Roy Clark was a well respected musician, singer and guitar/banjo player, but perhaps was best known to those in the Nashville area for his role in the long running TV show “Hee Haw.”
Kenny Rogers was a country crooner known for his love songs like “Lady,” “Through the Years” and “The Gambler,” which was the basis for multiple TV movies of the same name.
Hank Williams was a pioneer of true blue country music known for classics like “Hey Good Lookin’,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I Saw The Light.”
When people of a certain age hear Waylon Jennings’s name they automatically think of “Just the Good Ole Boys,” the theme song for The Dukes of Hazzard. Fun fact: even though he died in 2002, I recently saw an interview with his son who has discovered some new music by his dad that hadn’t been released. It’s coming out in 2026!
Pure Prairie League’s biggest hit, “Let Me Love You Tonight,” features Vince Gill before he went country.
George Jones had SO many iconic hits. He was on the charts spanning decades from the 1950s through the 2000s. It’s hard to choose just a few of his songs, but “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” with it’s video paying tribute to the singers mentioned in the song, and “He Stopped Lovin’ Her Today” with lyrics that prove true love can last a lifetime have a special place in my heart.
My mom played many Ricky Skaggs songs on her guitar. “Honey (won’t you open that door)” and “I Wouldn’t Change You if I Could” were two of her personal favorites. Since I live off I-40 these days, one of my favorites is “Highway 40 Blues,” which I have shared with many passing-by-truckers who in particular seem to enjoy this song.
I got to get my blues on with the King of Blues himself, B.B. King.
When I think of Dolly Parton’s musical catalogue, I’m reminded of her humble beginnings highlighted in her song “Coat of Many Colors.” Working women everywhere can relate to the lyrics of “9 to 5’” and of course everyone knows the tender ballad “I Will Always Love You.” Although she is DEFINITELY known as a country singer, when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she wrote a “rockin’” song to mark the event.
Next, I got to inject some local rock flavor with groups like The Black Keys and Kings of Leon who actually live right here in Nashville!
Fleetwood Mac is known for belting out songs like “Gypsy,” which reminds me of my mom (she was a true Gypsy at heart), “Landslide,” and the powerful lyrics of the song “Dreams.”
The Doobie Brothers went No. 1 on the charts with songs like, “Black Water” and “What A Fool Believes.”
Paul McCartney first achieved fame as a member of the Beatles, but after they broke up, he had a successful career with hits like, “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and collaborations with other artists like Stevie Wonder in, “Ebony and Ivory.” There was a solid white album featured on the wall of the hotel and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was The Beatles “White” album.
The Marshall Tucker Band recorded old fashioned southern rock with songs like, “I Heard It In A Love Song,” and “Can’t You See.”
Art Garfunkel’s first solo hit was, “All I Know.” He also recorded, “I Only Have Eyes For You,” but when I think of him one song immediately comes to mind: “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Loretta Lynn who was known as the Queen of Country Music came from humble beginnings as a “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” She even wrote an album by the same name. Her sister, Crystal Gayle, followed in her musical footsteps and her music transcended country and crossed over into the pop music charts with songs like “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and “You and I” with Eddie Rabbitt.
Earl Scruggs is known for his bluegrass/country music with songs like “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” and “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” (the theme song of The Beverly Hillbillies.)
In true country style, Tennessee Ernie Ford gave us memorable songs that blended with local legends like “The Ballad of Davy Crockett,” but perhaps his most well known song is “16 Tons.” The ones I mentioned here also crossed over into the pop charts!
Emmylou Harris is known as the “Godmother of Americana” for hits such as “Together Again” and “Two More Bottles of Wine.” While she is definitely talented as a solo artist, I also loved it when she teamed up with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. Together they made two albums, and that truly, “Feels Like Home” to me!
Lynn Anderson reminds us all of the truth of life when she sang, “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.” Yes indeed, “along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain sometimes!”
Hank Williams Jr. is known for belting out country anthems, and many of them have a rockin’ vibe that remind us of our own “Family Tradition(s),” or that “A Country Boy Can Survive” or at times even the need for an “Attitude Adjustment.”
This experience also reminded me of some classic artists like Cat Stevens and motivated me to check out a few other artists in the wall that I wasn’t familiar with like The Avett Brothers, The Alabama Shakes, Ray La Montagne and Vikki Carr.
ALL the artists mentioned in this article truly represent the variety and diversity that fosters my love of music! I hope it does the same for you, especially if you love alternative, blues, bluegrass, country, folk, pop or rock. They’re all here and can add SO much to your life.